Rural & Development !

VARDAN, as a Field NGO, is implementing the ‘Livelihood Improvement Project in Himalayas’ (ULIPH) also known as “Aajeevika Pariyojana” with an objective to promote livelihood opportunities for the rural poor in Dev Prayag Block of Tehri Garhwal District, Uttarakhand. The project funded by International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) through Uttarakhand Gramya Vikas Samiti (UGVS), a unit of Dept. of Rural Development, Uttarakhand is implemented since 2006. The Dobri Cluster was handed over to the Federation in May,2011 while in Bhatkot Cluster the activities were implemented by VARDAN in coordination with DMU, Chamba.The project primarily focuses on the following issues:>

VARDAN with support from Uttarakhand Diversified Watershed Development Programme(UDWDP) has conducted severval Traning Programmes for members of SHGs. The Traning programme was conducted in Record Keeping, Account Maintenance, Federation Formation, Bank Linkage & Gender Issues.

3. JEEVIKA AWSAR SUDHAR PARIYOJANA (2008-12)

Objective : To provide technical skills and production of Scent Sticks..

VARDAN implemented "JEEVIKA AWSAR SUDHAR PARIYOJANA" for the mentally challenged women residing in Govt. Nari Niketan, Dehradun. The project benefited 20 women besides the production of Scent Sticks which was marketed by the organisation in local markets. The income generated from sale was distributed to the trainees as an additional source of income. Several Traning Programmes in Tailoring & Dress making were also conducted in Haridwar District for the SC & Minority Women in the year 2009-10 & 2010-11.

4. Vocational Training Cum Production Programme (2004-08)

Objective : To provide vocational skills and promote production of Woolen Garments.

SWAP Programme was initiated by VARDAN in 20 villages of Kirtinagar & Devprayag Block of Tehri Garhwal in 2009 . The project is funded by Department of Drinking Water and Irrigation, Uttarakhand, through Uttarakhand Peyjal Nirman Nigam, Deoprayag. In 2011-12 the organisation was assigned the task of conducting IPQA of 11 GPs in Devprayag and Kirtinagar Bock. Major Components of the Scheme are:1. Devolution of Water Supply Schemes in 20 Villages.

2. IPQA of 07 GPs under Devolution and 04 GPs under FR.

3. Formation of UWSSCs in all selected Villages.

4. Conduct of Pre Feasibility Reports.

5. Preparation of Feasibility Reports.

6. Orientation & Training of UWSSC.

7. Conduct of IEC Activities.

6. SWARNA JAYANTI GRAM SWAROZGAR YOJANA (2000-06)

Objective : To Alleviate Poverty in Rural Area through Promotion of Self Employments through SHGs

Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana(SGSY) is a major Poverty Allevation Program of the Ministry of Rural Development, GOI. During the 6 years VARDAN has emerged as the leading NGO in Performance of SGSY Scheme in Dehradun District . VARDAN has promoted over 200 SHGs in Dehradun who are linked with banks to promote livelihood in Dairy, Poultry, Sericulture, Goatkeeping,Food processing etc. Like wise over 60 SHGs have been promoted in Tehri & Pauri Districts.

Major Components:

1. Formation of Self Help Group (SHGs) of BPL families.

2. Selection of Key Activities on Cluster Basis.

3. Credit cum Subsidy support for Self-Employment.

7. TOTAL SANITATION CAMPAIGN (2005-08)

Objective : To promote the construction and use of Toilets in rural areas..

Beneficiaries : Rural Community

Total Sanitation Campaign under the Swajaldhara Project was implemented by VARDAN in 19 Gram Panchayats of Dung Badwali Nyaya Panchayat of Tehri Garhwal and 16 Gram Panchayats of Vikas Nagar Block in Dehradun. The project was implemented entirely through the Gram Panchayats and local village Motivators. Besides construction of Latrines several PLA and IEC Activites are organised to promote hygienic sanitation among the rural population.

VARDAN received assistance from The District Agriculture Officer, Tehri Garhwal for conduct of training programmes for farmers on different farming techniques in agriculture & horticulture. The training programme was conducted at block headquarter Hindolakhal & was attended by more than 400 farmers of the area.

The prime components of training programme were:

1. Organic Framing.

2. Horticulture.

3. Commercial Farming.

4. Marketing of Agriculture produce.

5. Production & Use of Organic composts in Farming.

9. Water and Sanitation in Hill Areas (WASH) Programme

Funded by - The Hans Foundation, New Delhi

Program Introduction / Description:

Despite the heavy rains in hills of Uttarakhand state in both the monsoon and the winter seasons there is scarcity of water as the total rain water is lost as surface run off which flows down to the streams and rivers without being harvested or collected by the local people. The solution to this problem lies in harvesting the roof top rain water in Rain Water Harvesting Tanks during the rainy months which can later be used during lean months. The collected roof top rainwater can be used by community for many different purposes around the home. This includes toilets, laundry, washing dishes and more. This would reduce dependence on other sources like erratic water supply, hand pumps, streams and also prevent groundwater depletion and augment ground water table.

Sanitation has been another major challenge in the hill areas. Several Government sponsored programmes like Total Sanitation Campaign, SWAP and “Swachha Bharat Mission” have promoted the construction of individual toilets in hill areas during the last few years. However, the ground level survey indicates that majority of these households beneficiaries in hills do not use the toilets regularly due to scarcity of water. When sufficient water availability, even for drinking purpose becomes a challenge for the households, then use of available limited water for toilets becomes a secondary choice. Hence they prefer open defecation. Most households use the toilets only as storehouse for fuel wood and fodder. Consequently the villages are not clean and hygienic despite the availability of Toilets.
Hence the WASH Programme will focus on construction of 1000 Rain Water Harvesting Tanks for storage of roof top rain water that will provide the hill community an amicable solution for sanitation and other household purposes during the lean months i.e. at least 5-6 months in a year (during the post monsoon season i.e. Sept. to November and post winter rains i.e. March to May). This will improve the status of rural sanitation as households will be able to use rain water for toilets on regular basis. Those houses without toilets will also now be motivated to construct toilets due to availability of harvested rain water for use. The organization will promote construction of 300 individual Toilets with support from SWAJAL Project and community contribution. The ultimate objective is to make all rolex replica the 60 project open defecation free under the “Nirmal Gram Yojana”.

Major Objectives

Major objectives proposed for in the project can be stated as under :

1. To provide alternate regular source of water to households for domestic use and toilets in lean months through roof top rainwater harvesting tanks (RWHTs).
2. To improve the rural sanitation by promoting construction and use of toilets among the non users by utilizing the rain water storage.
3. To promote additional income of households from kitchen gardens using the available water from RWHTs.
4. To induce behavior change practice and increase awareness on uk rural sanitation and hygiene among the villagers for changing their traditional mindsets.
5. To ensure complete free open defecation and cleanliness in all project villages, to be considered for Nirmal Gram Yojana.
Proposed Target Area :

The proposed programme is to be implemented as a Pilot Project in 2 selected Blocks of Tehri Garhwal district which are comparatively water deficit areas in Garhwal region of Uttarakhand :

1. Devprayag Block – 30 Villages.2. Kirtinagar Block – 30 Villages.

The project is envisaged to directly benefit 1000 rural households in the selected 60 villages with special focus on poor population. It is proposed that at least 70% of the beneficiaries will be selected from the poor households who are not using the constructed toilets due to scarcity of water or do not have toilets in house .

2. Construction of 500 individual Toilets through community mobilization.

3. 60 project villages made Open Defication Free (ODF) in two years.

4. Formation of 60 Water And Sanitation User Groups (WSUGs) in all project villages.

5. BCC Activities for promoting Water Conservation and Rural sanitation in project villages.

10. Training Program for Panchayati Raj members

Objectives :- Capacity Building of Newly Elected Panchayat Members.

Funded by: Directorate of Panchayati Raj uttarakhand.

VARDAN was provided financial assistance for cunducting capacity building training programs for the newly elected members of Gram Panchayats in four blocks of Almora District and two blocks of Pauri garhwal District in Uttarakhand.

Details Of training program for Elected Panchayati Raj members:

11. Integrated Livelihood Support Programme (ILSP) - (2017-20)

Objective - To promote and enhance livelihood opportunities for the rual poor.

Funded By : International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) and UGVS and WMD, Govt. of Uttarakhand.

VARDAN received financial assistance for promoting Livelihood opportunities for the rural poor families in Pauri and Chamoli Districts of Uttarakhand. The project is being implemented in Kaljikhal, Pabo and Ekeshwar Blocks of Pauri district and Pokhri Block of Chamoli district. The prime focus of the programme is on upscaling and improving the farming techniques of farmers for enhanced production and providing market for the farmers through Livelihood Cooperatives. It includes the livelihood avenues in both the farm and non - farm sectors.''Major Components of Project : '

1. Formation of total 900 Groups (300 Producer Groups each in all 3 Blocks) including around 1000 poor families/households.

2. Bank Linkage of all 900 Groups.

3. Formation of 18 Livelihood Collectives/Cooperatives (6 in each Block)

for collection and marketing of agri - produce of Groups. 4. Identification of Value Chains for major crops in areas on cluster basis.